Hs2 Chipping Warden Green Tunnel

Flight Video

Additional Information

Chipping Warden Green Tunnel in Northamptonshire is being built on the surface using a pioneering off-site manufacturing approach to speed up construction and improve efficiency.

This approach will see more than five thousand giant concrete tunnel segments made in a factory in Derbyshire before being assembled on site. The completed tunnel will then be covered by earth, with trees, shrubs and hedgerows planted to fit in with the surrounding countryside.

Chipping Warden is one of five ‘green tunnels’ that are being built on phase one of the HS2 project, which is designed to improve links between London, Birmingham and the north.

Flying drones - despite being legal and safe - is frowned upon by so many ignorant and ill-informed people. As we tried to get footage of the start of the Greatworth Green Tunnel, HS2 security obstructed us and so we had to end the flight and leave this site for another day.

HS2 Traffic Marshals allowed us to walk along the public road to where we were flying, then security rocked up and told us we had to leave. When we questioned it, they admitted it was a public road but also a construction site and asked us to leave. So, to avoid conflict and any problems, we did what they asked - they were only looking out for the safety of people on site given the large plant driving around. Sadly this meant we were unable to get the footage we wanted.

Jonny flew here on Saturday, September 30, 2023, reaching a maximum altitude of 297 ft (90 m) and there were no airspace restrictions in place at the time of the flight.